18 Days

Every semester I've been in college or grad school I've made a list of things I need to get done before the end of the semester. But this semester it seems different.

I have two essays left.

That's it.

That's what's standing between me and a Master's degree. I turned in my last major assignment earlier today.

Now that it's so close and I have two assignments left to do that shouldn't be a problem to get done...it all seems so surreal.

Something that at times seemed impossible is so close to being mine. And there have been times where I thought that maybe quitting and going home was the better choice for my sanity.

But now that I'm almost there...why would I have quit? It all seems so silly now, looking back. The nights I despaired over assignments or the nights where I stayed up far too late to finish a paper or study for a test. The days where I did reading in my office just so I could stay on top of my coursework.

Soon that's all going to be done. No more nights of getting home at 9 or 10 and sitting down to do homework for 3 or 4 hours instead of curling up with a book or watching TV. Saturdays and Sundays spent locked up in a conference room working on homework until it was too late to enjoy the weekend. These will all be things of the past.

The struggle has been worth it. I've grown up so much in the past 2 years, and I'm only going to grow more. I had a moment of weakness yesterday and I texted Allie to ask her if I made the right decision in coming to grad school. She talked me down from feeling that way.

Because this WAS the right decision, despite everything I gave up to do it. These two years are the best thing that I've ever done.

And in 18 days, I will be able to say that I truly did it.